Pierre Bourque

Who is Pierre Bourque?

Pierre Bourque is a Canadian saxophonist and music educator. Born in Plessisville, Quebec, Bourque attended the Collège de Lévis in his youth. While there he was a member of the Sainte-Cécile concert band from 1948 to 1955. In 1955 he entered the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec where he was a pupil of Maurice DeCelles. He transferred to the Conservatoire de Paris in France in 1958 where he was a pupil of Marcel Mule. He graduated from the conservatory in 1961 with a premier prix in saxophone performance.

Following his graduation from the Conservatoire de Paris he joined the teaching staff at the Orford Art Centre in Quebec in 1961. He held that position for 11 years. He also taught concurrently at several other institutions. In 1962 he joined both the music staff at the Collège de Ste-Anne-de-la-Pocatière where he taught through 1965. He also joined the faculty of the CMQQ in 1962 as professor of saxophone and wind chamber music; a post he held for several decades. In 1972-1973 he served as the director of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Chicoutimi. His notable pupils include Jean Bouchard, Claude Brisson, Jacques Larocque, and Rémi Ménard among others.